Our Art and Design Curriculum

Overview

At Great Bardfield Primary School, Art and Design is an important part of school life, giving children early opportunities to be creative, develop confidence and take pride in their work. In our rural village setting, pupils are inspired by their surroundings and learn together in mixed age classes through a carefully planned and progressive curriculum.

Our Art and Design curriculum is based on the Learning Challenge Curriculum and adapted for our children and context. It builds knowledge and skills step by step, helping children think, plan and work like artists and designers. Have a look at our EYFS Curriculum to see how we link with Expressive Arts and Design in Reception.

Each unit begins with an overarching question and is broken down into manageable components that support long term retention. Teaching is adapted so all children, including those with additional needs, can access the same rich learning experiences.

Art and Design is taught through six discrete sessions each term, with learning recorded in sketch books from Year 1. Lessons include opportunities to revisit prior learning and explore the work of a range of artists, often linking to real life experiences and the local environment.

Assessment for learning is embedded throughout, with time for reflection and evaluation at the end of each unit. Regular monitoring ensures high quality teaching and supports all pupils to enjoy, achieve and develop as confident young artists and designers.

Expressive Arts and Design (Early Learning Goals – Reception)

Creating with Materials

Safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function.
Share their creations, explaining the process they have used.
Make use of props and materials when role playing characters in narratives and stories.

Being Imaginative and Expressive

Invent, adapt and recount narratives and stories with peers and their teacher.
Sing a range of well-known nursery rhymes and songs.
Perform songs, rhymes, poems and stories with others, and (when appropriate) try to move in time with music

Art & Design (National Curriculum Objectives Y1 – Y6)

KS1

To use a range of materials creatively to design and make products to use drawing, painting and sculpture.
To develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space
About the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making links to their own work.

KS2

To create sketch books to record their observations and use them to review and revisit ideas.
To improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and sculpture with a range of materials

About great artists, architects and designers in history.